We love introducing you to the amazing women entrepreneurs you’ll find inside the Hatch Tribe Collective. Today we’re excited to introduce you to Lea Austen of Lea Austen Photography in Charleston, SC.

Tell us about your business & how it came to be!

I am a boutique photographer specializing in children, family and senior photography.  My goal is to see art on the walls of your home. My high touch, boutique approach gives my client more of me as we spend time discussing all the details involved in creating our session from time of year to location, clothing and goals. We take time to look at spaces in the client’s home, so we shoot for what we want to see on the walls.  Large gorgeous canvas prints, framed collections all archivally created using the highest quality materials that stand the test of time.  The pieces are unique, one of a kind and timeless heirlooms that will give goosebumps, smiles and maybe even a tear through the years. I still offer services to clients for headshots, social media and small intimate weddings.

What do you love about being an entrepreneur?

I have worked for myself the majority of my life.  For six years total I worked as an elementary school teacher in Virginia but from the time I was five until now, less those years, I have only worked for myself. Being an entrepreneur and CEO of my life, family and businesses gives me the freedom to create my own schedule, live life on my own terms and answer to myself and my values.  

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced building your business? What has that challenge taught you?

Challenge comes with doing and learning anything new.  Challenge never really goes away unless we stop learning and growing.  Right now, the hardest challenge for me is in the rebranding and restructuring of my photography business model. Being in this business for almost twenty years, I have come full circle.  I began as a new photographer only offering framed art pieces and over time, as I created a second company and other life factors collided, I moved to a shoot and burn model where I was offering clients digital image packages.  This meant more clients for less money.  I was working harder, longer and making less in the long run.  I was also losing my love for my art.  I found a mentor who was highly successful in the model I wanted and have been working diligently to start over.  It is empowering, sometimes scary but mostly meaningful because I am building relationships, serving at a higher level and honoring my best self. Challenge teaches me that I am growing.  It expands my capacity by doing things that are hard and as a direct result there is a confidence and a sense of accomplishment by doing that hard thing. 

How do you balance your personal life with your business?

Because I am an empty nester, I don’t have many of the struggles that young women raising their family while working have.  Balancing is a process. As a yoga teacher I talk about balance a lot in my classes and as we practice on the mat balancing, I talk about what balancing looks like in our lives.  In order to be balanced, there needs to be some level of flexibility.  Not too much, not too little – what I like to call the “baby bear” place.  The “just right.”  You know it because it feels good.  It’s comfortable and breathing is easy.  Scheduling is important.  Having clear boundaries and honoring them.  Making sure you have blocked out time for self-care, exercise, work, learning and family in your day.  You know, a little bit of mental, emotional, physical and spiritual but not being rigid or legalistic.  Being present and being able to adapt and maybe having to go to plan B or C without feeling bad about it.  

Do you start or end your day with a routine or ritual? Tell us about it!

Love this question and want to write a book on it!  I love ritual and I love my morning routine.  It is not one I created and giving credit where credit is due, I get up at 4:30 most mornings and for the 90 minutes before my husband and the dogs are up, I practice the Miracle Morning that Hal Elrod created.  I was doing all the things anyway, but actually doing them first thing AND together is amazingly powerful and sets me up to show up as my best self.  So, my routine looks something like this.  Feet on the floor with my prayer.  Drink a full glass of water and head to my yoga room.  I sit for silent meditation for 20 to 30 minutes.  Then I speak out loud affirmations or a poem, bible verse or inspirational paragraph.  I then visualize my day or how I see my future life and future best self.  Moving comes next and this can vary depending on what other exercise I have planned that day.  So, it's either cardio or a couple of sun salutes or chi gong just to get the blood pumping.  Then I sit again and read a chapter from a motivational book, my devotional time and then I journal.  By then I am ready to give my husband my full attention and enjoy my coffee!  At the end of the day I write in my journal things I am grateful for and finish my notes on the day in my planner.  I use Brendon Burchard’s high performance planner. A little more reading and in bed between 9 and 10!

How do you hold yourself accountable?  

Holding myself accountable alone is challenging and not always productive.  I have an accountability buddy in my industry, and we share goals, wins and flops with each other.  My mentor has a Facebook community where we are also encouraged to share.  

How do you handle those moments of self-doubt and fear?

Self-doubt and fear are two of my tops in my list of head trash!  My affirmations along with post it notes by my computer help to remind me to come back to a place of empowerment and belief.  I have my mantra, my most important affirmations, a prayer and my power words in front of me and programmed into my phone.  

What resources do you love that you think other business owners should know about? 

I am a huge fan of Hal Elrod and Brendon Burchard.  I also am a podcast junkie and listen while I am driving.  Here is a list:

• Achieve your Goals with Hal Elrod

• The Brendon Show

• Build Your Tribe

• Don’t keep your Day Job

• Unlocking Us – Brene Brown

• Worth Every Penny Joycast – Sarah Petty

• HPX podcast Brendon Burchard

• Oprah’s Master Class

What book do you think every entrepreneur should read?

Books I could go on all day! I wrote a blog post on my site mypracticalinsanity.com just the other day on a list of books I have read and am reading now. Here are my top five:

• Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki

• How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

• The 10X Rule by Grant Cardone

• Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl

• The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer

What is your favorite quote?

“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”  Eleanor Roosevelt is my quote of the month! Seriously, who can have just one!!!

What is the best advice you’ve ever received as a business owner?

The best advice I have been given is to always think “how can I serve.”  It says it all.

What are you working on now in your business?

Right now, I am working on becoming a master at sales and marketing.  That’s a lot!  And reminding myself you can’t eat the elephant in one bite.  

What are your biggest hopes & dreams for your business?

I would love to see my business reignite so I am serving my clients, they are loving my work and referring me to family and friends.  As it grows that means my influence and reach in my community grows too and I am serving other businesses on a higher level and helping in the community.  I would love to see my business be in a position to not only pay for my financial needs, but have plenty to donate to charity, and to help family. Getting up every day and remembering my mantra for myself and then how I want to show up for others is key. In my yoga tradition, the mantra love all, serve all speaks to me on the highest level of showing up and intent.  

Connect with Lea Austen inside the Hatch Tribe Collective, our member exclusive community for women entrepreneurs on the rise! Have yet joined us, learn more right here.

You can also connect with Lea at leaausten.com